Nightfall after an early winter sunset is
perfect for stargazing, providing it's not too cold! We begin our
exploration in the northern sky. Here we discover one of the most famous
stars. And yet at this time of year we must find this important beacon
without the aid of an old familiar friend, the Big Dipper. Earlier in the
fall, the Big Dipper assisted us in finding this noted star. However, in
the early winter the Big Dipper does not rise above the northeastern horizon
until the late night hours. Now only one dipper, the Little Dipper, is
visible after sunset.
Ursa Minor - the Little Dipper
A third of the way up above the northern horizon we find one of the most
important stars of the heavens, the North Star. And yet in this case,
important does not necessarily mean brightest. Of average brilliance, the
North Star is in fact the 48th brightest star visible from Earth. Unlike
any other in the sky, this star is granted a unique honor. For almost a
thousand years the North Pole of our planet points very near this star.
Find the North Star and you will be facing North. As if to signify its role
as guide star, another name for this celestial beacon is Polaris. Every
clear night, no matter what the season, Polaris is visible in our sky.
Polaris represents the end star of the Little Dipper. Though difficult
to see because of the city lights, three stars trace out the Little Dipper's
handle, with four others shaping the bowl. It should be noted that the
Little Dipper is often easier to detect from the darker skies of the
country. The Little Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Minor - the
Little Bear. Stars of the bowl outline the little bear's body, with the
handle representing his unusually long tail.
Cassiopeia the Queen
With the Big Dipper gone from view we turn our
attention to the north where the stars of Cassiopeia the Queen take command
of the polar skies. Above the North Star Polaris we trace out a string of
several stars that appears to form the lettWith the Big Dipper gone from
view we turn our attention to the north where the stars of Cassiopeia the
Queen take command of the polar skies. Above the North Star Polaris we
trace out a string of several stars that appears to form the letter "W" or
"M". This celestial "M" represents Queen Cassiopeia seated in her celestial
throne. Easily found and readily remembered, this pattern of stars can be
imagined as either the Queen or simply as her chair. At this time of year
we wonder how she manages to keep from falling out of the sky. In gazing
upon this monarch of the heavens we are reminded of an ancient story of
pride and punishment.
According to legend, Queen Cassiopeia's beauty was eclipsed only by that of
her daughter, Andromeda. So lovely was Andromeda, Cassiopeia boasted that
not even the sea nymphs of Neptune could match her daughter's beauty.
Offended by this comparison, the sea nymphs complained to their master, King
Neptune, ruler of the ocean. Angry and wishing to punish Cassiopeia for her
boastfulness, Neptune sent a horrible sea monster, Cetus, to ravage the
coastline of Cassiopeia's kingdom. Frightened, the people sought protection
from the sea monster's savage attacks. Queen Cassiopeia consulted a
fortuneteller as how best to end the monster's fury. The fortuneteller
advised that the only way to appease Neptune and Cetus was to offer
Andromeda as a sacrifice to the voracious creature. Queen Cassiopeia made
the fateful choice. Andromeda was chained to a rock along the
seaside.
er "W" or "M". This celestial "M" represents Queen Cassiopeia seated in her
celestial throne. Easily found and readily remembered, this pattern of
stars can be imagined as either the Queen or simply as her chair. At this
time of year we wonder how she manages to keep from falling out of the sky.
In gazing upon this monarch of the heavens we are reminded of an ancient
story of pride and punishment.
According to legend, Queen Cassiopeia's beauty was eclipsed only by that of
her daughter, Andromeda. So lovely was Andromeda, Cassiopeia boasted that
not even the sea nymphs of Neptune could match her daughter's beauty.
Offended by this comparison, the sea nymphs complained to their master, King
Neptune, ruler of the ocean. Angry and wishing to punish Cassiopeia for her
boastfulness, Neptune sent a horrible sea monster, Cetus, to ravage the
coastline of Cassiopeia's kingdom. Frightened, the people sought protection
from the sea monster's savage attacks. Queen Cassiopeia consulted a
fortuneteller as how best to end the monster's fury. The fortuneteller
advised that the only way to appease Neptune and Cetus was to offer
Andromeda as a sacrifice to the voracious creature. Queen Cassiopeia made
the fateful choice. Andromeda was chained to a rock along the seaside.
From the beneath the bubbling waves the sea monster approached his
helpless victim. Suddenly, the hero Perseus appeared out of the sky riding
on the back of winged horse, Pegasus. Seeing the maiden's peril, Perseus
pulled forth a magic bag. In it lay the severed head of Medusa. With
snakes for hair, Medusa was so hideously ugly that anyone of anything gazing
upon her would be instantly turned to stone. Holding Medusa's severed head
before the sea monster, Cetus was destroyed. Perseus rescued lovely
Andromeda and claimed her hand in marriage. Ashamed of her vanity and for
angering the gods, boastful Queen Cassiopeia was placed in the heavens.
Taurus the Bull and the Pleiades Star
Cluster
Turning our attention from the north, we shift our attention towards the
brightest stars and constellations of the winter sky. Above the eastern
horizon we find one of the most famous and easiest of constellations to
trace - Taurus the Bull. Brightest star of Taurus is Aldebaran, an
orange-red colored star marking the bull's angry eye. With Aldebaran, other
nearby stars form Taurus's "V" shaped head. Two other fainter stars mark
the tips of the bull's long horns.
The constellation of Taurus the Bull plays host to one the prettiest sights
of the winter sky, the stars of the Pleaides. To the unaided eye, the
Pleiades resembles a tiny dipper-shaped cluster of six stars. Japanese
skywatchers named this cluster "Subaru." In very dark skies those with
sharp eyesight might detect a seventh star, thus creating the Pleiades other
name - the Seven Sisters. With his angry eye and two long horns, Taurus the
Bull charges towards our next constellation - Orion the Hunter.
Orion the Hunter
Of all the constellations of the heavens, the stars of Orion are some of the
most famous and recognizable. Rising in the east just below Taurus, Orion
appears as a large rectangle with 4 bright stars marking the corners. The
most striking feature of this constellation is an alignment of three equally
bright stars centered within the rectangle - Orion's belt. Above the belt,
two stars represent the giant's shoulders. The left shoulder is noticeably
brighter and gleams with an orange-red color. This star's name is
unforgettable - Betelgeuse, a red super giant star whose diameter is 900
times that of the Sun. With upraised club and a lion skin for a shield,
mighty Orion stands ready to meet the charge of Taurus the Bull.
Betelgeuse is nearing the end of its stellar lifetime. The nuclear
reactions that have long powered its energetic heart are failing. In a
desperate attempt to withstand the overpowering crush of gravity, Betelgeuse
is burning the last of its nuclear fuels. As a result, Betelgeuse has
become a bloated, blood red giant – a star perhaps destined to die in
spectacular fashion – a supernova! When a supernova explodes it violently
ejects much of its mass as an expanding cloud of dust and gas. Such debris
clouds are important for they eventually help create the next stellar
generation. And yet, something else may be born. The shattered core could
be crushed into a rapidly spinning neutron star or possibly a black hole.
One day Betelgeuse will die. How it ends its life remains to be seen.
Another celestial treasure awaits us among the stars of Orion. Just
below the trio of Orion's belt, lies the sword of the hunter. To the
unaided eye the center of the sword appears slightly fuzzy. This misty patch
of light is the great Orion Nebula. Without interference from city lights it
appears as a faint, fuzzy glow. Through binoculars it's much easier to see.
The nebula's true grandeur is revealed when explored through a telescope.
The Orion Nebula is a spectacular region of turbulent gas and dust. Within
this ghostly cloud of creation the fires of newborn suns are ignited. Here
the invisible hand of gravity is slowly shaping pockets of gas and dust into
newly fashioned stars. The Orion Nebula is illuminated by the radiation
released from young stars recently fashioned inside its dusty core. Within
this magnificent cloud there are enough stellar materials to produce an
estimated 10,000 new stars.
Written by Bob Kelley - Scobee Planetarium
Educational Specialist
